Travel

We understand many faculty, staff and students have questions regarding university-related travel, particularly in light of the COVID-19 situation during summer and fall 2020. We also acknowledge the desire to make international travel plans in the near future and the significant difficulty imposed by this uncertain period.

This message includes the most updated information available about travel protocol, travel insurance and travel reimbursement.

Controllers and AP Directors/Travel Managers

The California Attorney General’s office updated the list of states where state funds may not be used for travel. Idaho is the latest state, effective July 1, 2020. https://oag.ca.gov/ab1887

The FAQs attached have been updated to reflect the twelve states currently on the list, and their effective dates.

The UC Merced COVID-19 Emergency Disaster-relief Program is effective as of the start of the COVID-19 federal disaster declaration on March 13, 2020 (see https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2020/03/13/covid-19-emergency- declaration) and will end at the conclusion of the federally-declared disaster, or when available funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.

This form is required for all travel and entertainment reimbursements being processed due to cancellation of trips or events as a result of COVID-19. Once the form is completed please send to travel@ucmerced.edu and we will work with the Controller to obtain final signature. Please ensure to use COVD19 as the project code when submitting these reimbursements.

Click here to access the Travel Reimbursement Approval Form.

This information is specific to travel impacted as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19). As the situation remains very fluid, please check back here regularly for updates. For regular reimbursement information, please visit the reimbursement section of the travel website.

Click here for more information.

The Campus Travel Management team is working on a significant upgrade to how faculty, staff and students will manage expenses while traveling, and how they will be reimbursed. The system will allow users to capture an expense such as a restaurant or gas receipt through a convenient mobile app. Expenses such as Uber rides will be recorded digitally, eliminating the need to obtain paper receipts.

Effective July 1, 2019, the Office of President issued new guidance in their systemwide travel policy, G-28. This new guidance focuses on the possible reimbursement of dependent and dependent care expenses for staff, faculty, and prospective employees while on travel status. As is often the case with systemwide policies, the administration at each campus needs time to evaluate if and how these new guidelines will be implemented locally.

U.S. Bank Announces Migration to Electronic Statements

U.S. Bank has announced they are promoting sustainable business practices while supporting economic growth. As part of this initiative, U.S. Bank will be migrating accounts from receiving paper statements to more environmentally friendly electronic statements. 

Your card account will be migrated to electronic statements on October 1, 2019. 

Please follow the steps below before your migration date: